91视频

Minority-owned and women-owned contractors could soon play a bigger role in Portland Public Schools construction projects.

Last week, the Portland School Board approved an equity policy that will create an 鈥渁spirational goal鈥� for 18 percent of all district construction projects 鈥� including new schools 鈥� being completed by minority-owned or women-owned contracting companies or emerging small businesses. The policy, once it is put into place in September, will be the first of its kind for PPS as well as for any school district on the West Coast, according to district officials.

鈥淲e needed to put the systems in place that would remove the obstacles for anyone to bid on projects,鈥� said Martin Gonzalez, school board chairman. 鈥淚t’s a good step in the right direction.鈥�

The approval comes after the school board’s admittance that on average only 5 percent of individual district projects are completed by MWESB firms. Comparatively, 34 percent of Multnomah County construction projects were completed by MWESB firms last year.

The board’s policy creates big opportunities because the district is so large, said Faye Burch, vice president of the National Association of Minority Contractors-Oregon.

鈥淚t’s a little late; we would have liked to have (had) more opportunities to work together in (the past),鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut that’s OK. We’re moving forward. This gives us the opportunity for minority contractors to get in the door.鈥�

Plans for such a policy have been in the works since 2008, according to Gonzalez. Only recently did the board gain the financial resources (approximately $60,000) needed to implement it, he said. Additionally, a full-time PPS employee will monitor the district’s efforts in regard to the policy.

The district also needed time to establish policy guidelines, Gonzalez said. Outside groups 鈥� like NAMC-Oregon, the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber, the Portland Workforce Alliance and the Coalition of Black Men 鈥� provided feedback that helped craft the policy.

The timing of the move favors contractors. The board recently decided to pursue a $482 million bond measure that could be placed on the November ballot. Some of the bond money would pay for replacement of three high schools and one K-8 school.

鈥�(The bond) is certainly one opportunity we will want to engage in,鈥� said Gale Castillo, president of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber. 鈥淏ut what we’ve encouraged them to do is look not just at the huge contracts, but also look at the smaller contracts.鈥�

The policy goes beyond construction projects. The 18 percent goal will be applied to all of the district’s outside business dealings, according to Gonzalez 鈥� from catering services to technology services.

Additionally, the board hopes the policy can be used as an educational tool for students. Businesses will be expected to work with PPS career learning staffers to expand opportunities for students to participate in career days, site visits and job shadows.

鈥淚t’s important to note that this is something beyond construction contracts,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淭hese types of policies are sometimes strapped in a little box that only applies to construction work; this is something much beyond that.鈥�

Establishing an 18 percent goal is a good start, but that percentage is relatively low compared to most governmental agencies in the state, Castillo said. And it is still unclear whether regulations will be imposed to enforce the policy or if nonrestrictive guidelines will be put in place instead.

However, PPS officials acknowledge that the policy is just a starting point and that it could grow into something more significant.

鈥淭hey have recognized themselves that their engagement with women- and minority-owned businesses has been small in comparison to the population and the availability.鈥� Castillo said. 鈥淭his is their way of trying to be more inclusive; it’s a good start.鈥�